Not real safe like.....

[DangerangerHD]

Ok, I just put in my new djm drop beams (94 2wd 2.3l) and it pulls HARD to the left. The only things that are different in the front end are new stock height springs, the drop beams, and I had to flip the sway bar brackets (connected to ibeam) because they wouldnt set flush against the beams unless I flipped them, which I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) it said to do in the djm instructions. I didnt change the setup on any of the steering linkage. Any ideas what is wrong, please dont just say "get it alligned" because this is a budget project and I hate to just throw money at problems.... that is unless you've been through this before and had the same problem solved by an alignment.

Thanks
DangeRanger

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

your using stock springs with drop beams?

if so your tires are doing this: \ /

even if you are running the drop springs that your supposed to be running, you need to have it aligned. any time you change the ride height, springs, or beams on a TTB truck, it needs to be aligned. period.

 

[Zipity]

Ok, I just put in my new djm drop beams (94 2wd 2.3l) and it pulls HARD to the left. The only things that are different in the front end are new stock height springs, the drop beams, and I had to flip the sway bar brackets (connected to ibeam) because they wouldnt set flush against the beams unless I flipped them, which I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) it said to do in the djm instructions. I didnt change the setup on any of the steering linkage. Any ideas what is wrong,please dont just say "get it alligned" because this is a budget project and I hate to just throw money at problems.... that is unless you've been through this before and had the same problem solved by an alignment.

Thanks
DangeRanger

Not to say.. that all you need to do is get it aligned.. but that is all u have to do trust me. It will straighten out a lot. I had the same problem at the beginning when i first did my truck.. the alignment fixed it, trust me.

 

[DangerangerHD]

So what springs should i use, Ive been told a couple times on trs to use stock springs with djm beams. I had 2.5" cut coils on there previously (+stockbeams) and had a /--\ wheel alignment (I like to tell people its pulls 1.3g's in the corner but thats a cover up excuse) and i wanted to get rid of that negative camber and the bounce so I bought the beams did the research and was told to get stock springs, so i did. Now the new springs havent settled yet, but the new alignment set up has very little/almost no positive camber \--/ (im sure the 5degrees that there might be will disapear in a couple hundred miles as the springs wear in) but even so would it affect the steering enough to cause permanent left hand donuts??????? Has anyone had probs getting the sway bar to fit normally??... Whats the right way to install the beams+sway bar brackets or does it matter?

 

[Zipity]

well i on my sway bar.. it didn't line up right but i got it to work without flipping it. I just got the alignment and it took the left pull out. My truck now drives smooth... I used stock springs no cutting or bending.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

they were telling you to get rid of the cut springs for stock springs when you had stock beams. now that you have modified (lowered) beams, you should have modified (lower) springs to match.

TTB has a relitively narrow range of adjustment for camber. your springs and beams need to be very closely matched to one another in order for the truck to be alignable.

you dont seem to understand how the TTB suspension under your truck works. anytime you change the springs or beams you change the camber, toe, and a lot of the time caster. when you installed the new beams, where did you set your camber accentric bushings? if you just threw them in there without paying attention (it sounds like you did), then who knows where your camber/caster is. even if you "eyeballed" them, its only good enough to drive to the shop to have aligned.

get the right springs and have the truck aligned. front end alignment isnt something you can just throw together and hope it works. it has to be set to within fractions of an inch in 3 different axis of movement or else you will get poor results.

if you cant afford to pay for basic maintainence like an alignment...you shouldnt be modifying the truck.

 

[DangerangerHD]

Ooooo... Ouch, gimme a break, I gotta learn somehow (thats what trs is for, right?) and it's not that i cant afford it, I'm just a cheap ass and dont like to spend money (especially if I will need to do it again next week after i re-install shit) unless i have too. What size springs should I use then? Or will the alignment do everything i need?And yes the eccentrics are exactly as the were from the factory, I installed everything the same way it came off except the sway bar.

ps zipity the caddy lights look bitchin!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

theres part of your problem. your accentric bushings were set for your original springs and beams. no 2 springs or beams are exactly the same. dropping the bushings in the same way they came out doesnt work.

your truck might be alignable with stock height springs and drop beams, the only way to see is to take it into a shop. if it isnt, you need to get the springs that match your beams (ie. if they are 4" drop beams, you need 4" drop springs). this way will be alignable. or you could put your stock beams back in with stock springs.

 

[Zipity]

theres part of your problem. your accentric bushings were set for your original springs and beams. no 2 springs or beams are exactly the same. dropping the bushings in the same way they came out doesnt work.

your truck might be alignable with stock height springs and drop beams, the only way to see is to take it into a shop. if it isnt, you need to get the springs that match your beams (ie. if they are 4" drop beams, you need 4" drop springs). this way will be alignable. or you could put your stock beams back in with stock springs.

I don't think the statement that is in bold is totally true. I used the djm drop beams and my stock springs and the alignment came out fine. I think the problem is that he just needs it aligned. I am telling you I had the same problem with the front alignment when i did mine and I took it to the local shop and got an alignment done. I am no mechanic but i do know what i did to my truck to fix the problem.

Oh and thanks about the cadi lights. it is alot of work.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

you must have missed the part where i said:

your truck might be alignable with stock height springs and drop beams, the only way to see is to take it into a shop.

some trucks have more camber adjustment left than others...it depends on a lot of things (engine, cab length, bed length, position of the moon in relation to venus...). it MIGHT be alignable (yours was), it MIGHT not. generally, 2" up or down from "neutral" is all TTB will safely afford you. meaning if he has 4" drop beams, he could use springs between 2" and 6" shorter than stock and be able to align it.

 

[Zipity]

ah okay.. i guess i misread it. He really needs to take it to a shop and see what they say. They will tell him if he needs the springs or not.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

yep.

 

[DangerangerHD]

Thanks guys, I'll go to the shop first thing Monday. Till then anybody else want to chime in.....? I still realy want to know the repercussions of flipping the sway bar brackets... any?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

im having trouble picturing what your talking about with the sway bar. as long as its firmly connected to the frame and beams and doesnt bind, it should be fine.

but either way, i wouldnt worry about the sway bar right now...its unimportant until the ride height/alignment issue is sorted out.

 

[DangerangerHD]

I'll snap some picks of the sway bar in the morn and include some factory setup pics to crossref with.